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Whether you can get Personal Independence Payment (PIP) depends on an assessment of your ability to carry out certain daily living activities and mobility activities. This is measured against a list of descriptors, which describe varying levels of ability under each activity. The activities and the descriptors are known as the assessment criteria and are set out in regulations.

The regulations also provide definitions for the words used in the assessment criteria. When you’re assessed, the assessor must use the meaning of words as they are defined in the regulations. These meanings are set out in the following table.

Words used in the PIP

AIDED: with:

(a) the use of an aid or appliance, or

(b) supervision, prompting or assistance

AID OR APPLIANCE:

(a) any device which improves, provides or replaces your impaired physical or mental function, and

(b) includes a prosthesis

ASSISTANCE:

physical intervention by another person not including speech

ASSISTANCE DOG: a dog trained to guide or assist a person with a sensory impairment

BASIC VERBAL INFORMATION: information in your native language conveyed verbally in a simple sentence

BASIC WRITTEN INFORMATION: signs, symbols and dates written or printed standard size text in your native language

BATHE: includes get into or out of an unadapted bath or shower

COMMUNICATION SUPPORT: support from a person trained or experienced in communicating with people with specific communication needs, including interpreting verbal information into a non-verbal form and vice versa

COMPLEX BUDGETING DECISIONS: decisions involving:

(a) calculating household and personal budgets,

(b) managing and paying bills, and

(c) planning future purchases

COMPLEX VERBAL INFORMATION: information in your native language conveyed verbally in either more than one sentence or one complicated sentence

COMPLEX WRITTEN INFORMATION: more than one sentence of written or printed standard size text in your native language

COOK: heat food at or above waist height

DRESS AND UNDRESS: includes put on and take off socks and shoes

ENGAGE SOCIALLY: (a) interact with others in a contextually and socially appropriate manner, and

(b) understand body language, and

(c) establish relationships

MANAGE INCONTINENCE: manage involuntary evacuation of the bowel or bladder, including using a collecting device or self-catheterisation, and cleaning yourself afterwards

MANAGE MEDICATION OR THERAPY: take medication or undertake therapy, where a failure to do so is likely to result in a deterioration in your health

MEDICATION: medication to be taken at home which is prescribed or recommended by a registered:

(a) doctor, or

(b) nurse, or

(c) pharmacist

MONITOR HEALTH: (a) detect significant changes in your health condition which are likely to lead to a deterioration in your health, and

(b) take action advised by a:

(i) registered doctor, or

(ii) registered nurse, or

(iii) health professional who is regulated by the Health Professions Council

without which your health is likely to deteriorate

ORIENTATION AID: a specialist aid designed to assist disabled people to follow a route safely

PREPARE: in the context of food, make food ready for cooking or eating

PROMPTING: reminding, encouraging or explaining by another person

PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS: distress related to an enduring mental health condition or an intellectual or cognitive impairment

READ: includes read signs, symbols and words but does not include read Braille

SIMPLE BUDGETING DECISIONS: decisions involving:

(a) calculating the cost of goods, and

(b) calculating change required after a purchase

SIMPLE MEAL: a cooked one-course meal for one using fresh ingredients

SOCIAL SUPPORT: support from a person trained or experienced in assisting people to engage in social situations

STAND: stand upright with at least one biological foot on the ground

SUPERVISION: the continuous presence of another person for the purpose of ensuring your safety

TAKE NUTRITION: (a) cut food into pieces, convey food and drink to your mouth and chew and swallow food and drink, or

(b) take nutrition by using a therapeutic source

THERAPEUTIC SOURCE: parenteral or enteral tube feeding, using a rate-limiting device such as a delivery system or feed pump

THERAPY: therapy to be undertaken at home which is prescribed or recommended by a:

(a) registered

(i) doctor, or

(ii) nurse, or

(iii) pharmacist, or

(b) health professional regulated by the Health Professions Council

TOILET NEEDS: (a) getting on and off an unadapted toilet,

(b) evacuating the bladder and bowel, and

(c) cleaning yourself afterwards

UNAIDED: without:

(a) the use of an aid or appliance, or

(b) supervision, prompting or assistance

©A1 ESA/DLA/PIP Benefits Help and Support (UK only)